Written by Audrey Hirschl
Campus housing at NAU is very good, especially after looking at the cost of living off campus. Of the four "Freshman Connection" halls, Reilly and Sechrist are the main epicenters for first-year interaction. These two high-rises on Central Campus are where the majority of freshman students are housed. They both are very clean, feature a number of amenities, and offer a diverse group of people. You'll meet a ton of folks just by leaving your door open and introducing yourself to those who walk by. Cowden Hall, also on Central Campus, carries its own culture. Home to the honors kids, it's generally very quiet and subdued—some might even say boring. McConnell is the redheaded stepchild of the freshman halls. McConnell's isolated location on the south end of campus, confusing floor plan, lack of elevators, and rowdy student athlete population make it somewhat less coveted than other dorms.
Living on campus is a great experience—you can walk everywhere! The halls on campus are all very nice and are all within distance of either the Dub or the Union. Students are able to live on campus for as long as they want, and as they get older, the halls to shoot for are Raymond, Aspen Crossing, Gabaldon, and the Greek hall, Mountain View. Beyond that, there's McKay Village and Pine Ridge Village, both luxury apartment complexes. The luxury apartments are fully furnished and are the best place to be for upperclassmen.